Confusing words

Yes, there are many confusing words when learning another language and of course English is no exception. Some are confusing because they are very similar to other words from student’s L1, however, they are used differently (false friends), while others confuse us because, either the spelling or the sound is very similar to another word that has a slight or even a very different meaning.

Here are some of these words, although I must say that only one or two uses of them have been included as this page doesn’t intend to be a dictionary. In a near future, I’ll be adding some more words. Promise 😉

actually/at the moment

Actually (Adv) has a meaning associated to ‘really’ or ‘in fact’ when we want to correct some information in a polite way.

Actually, we enjoyed the concert a lot. (Maybe they weren’t expected to have enjoyed it)

Actually, we’re from Belgium, not France.

We also use this word to emphasise that something is true.

I don’t want to say anything until I actually know all about the whole issue.

At the moment- at present – currently

Ache/hurt/pain

Ache (verb) meaning that a part of your body hurts in a continuous and dull way. Ache (noun) referring to a continuous dull pain. This word is usually used in combination with the part of body that is in pain.

Stomach ache, toothache, headache, or my stomach aches.

Hurt (verb transitive and intransitive) to cause physical pain to yourself/somebody. This verb doesn’t give information on the type of pain/ache it only explains that somebody is in a certain degree of pain or that somebody/something is causing it.

Stop! You’re hurting me!

Yesterday I fell over. Now my leg hurts/I hurt my leg.

Pain (noun) Not usually used as a verb. Meaning referring to physical suffering in general, often more severe than ‘ache’, used with parts of the body. e.g. pain in my leg, arm, shoulder etc.

Appointment/date

In Spanish and Catalan we usually use ‘cita’ for when we go to the doctor/dentist and for when we have arranged to meet somebody for other reasons not associated with professional assistance.

These two words are very different in English. When we go to see somebody for a reason that isn’t for leisure, that is, for professional reasons like when we go to see the doctor for health reasons, the word we should use is ‘appointment’. However, when we are meeting somebody for a drink or to meet them because we are interested in ‘them’ and not in the advice they can give us, the word we have to use is ‘date’.

A – How do you feel today?

B- Very happy because I have a date with Mick and he’s the so gorgeous!

A- How are do you feel today?

B- Quite bad. I have a very bad backache and I have to get an appointment with my doctor.

Lie (verb intransitive) meaning to be in a flat horizontal position or when something is in or referring to where something is to be located (places). Usually followed by a preposition. Verb form: lie/lay/lain/lying.

She has been lying on the bed all day.

The book lay open on the desk.

He had lain down because he was exhausted.

The village lies on the coast.

Lie (verb intransitive) to say something that you know is not the truth.

lose/miss

Lose (verb transitive) meaning to be unable to find something or somebody. Another meaning is to have something removed due to a penalisation/accident/age, etc.

She lost her passport and had to have it renewed.

The team lost four points.

He lost his leg in a car accident.

Miss (verb transitive) Miss has many associated meanings, but here it is being compared with ‘lose’ because this second word is frequently used instead of ‘miss’ when we want to talk about ‘arriving late’ to something. When meaning that we have arrived somewhere late and consequently, we haven’t been able to do something, ‘lose’ isn’t correct.

We missed the flight because we were held up in a traffic jam.

If you hadn’t been preening yourself, we wouldn’t have missed the beginning of the film.

Wedding (countable noun) meaning referred to the ceremony when two people get married and to the meal or party that usually follows this ceremony and to the typical items included. e.g. wedding cake, wedding dress, etc.

She looked beautiful in her wedding dress.

rise/raise

Rise (verb intransitive) verb form: rise/rose/risen. This verb generally means to move upwards or to move to a higher position.

The water rose after the floods.

Rise to get up from somewhere

She rose to her feet

Raise (verb transitive) verb form: raised.

Raise something. To increase the amount of something such as money.

The organisation has raised charity for the needy.

Taxes have been raised several times in the last decades.

Raise people/animals. To look after people or animals from when they are very young.

rob /steal

travel/trip/ journey

travel (uncountable noun) term used to refer to the act or activity of travelling.

travel (verb intransitive transitive)to go from one place to another. When meaning long distances, we usually use travel instead of trip. We also use this word when we talk about travelling for a reason such as work, etc.

I love travelling – I’d love to travel around the world – Tomorrow I have to get up early. I’m travelling.

trip (countable noun) an excursion or a journey somewhere and back, especially for pleasure.

We went on a boat trip to the island.

journey (countable noun) the act of travelling from one place and another. Here the focus is placed on talking about what happens between the beginning and ending of these points. For example, if going from Madrid to Paris on a train, you enjoyed it because it was quick, you had a good meal and a nice nap, you would say something like ‘your journey was nice’. But if you had bad weather, the food was horrible and the person on the seat next to you, kept dropping off, snoring almost all the way, you’d probably say that your ‘journey was horrible’.